Speakerphone Control For Mobile Device

ABSTRACT

A speakerphone system integrated in a mobile device is automatically controlled based on the current state of the mobile device. In one implementation, the mobile device is controlled based on an orientation or position of the mobile device. In another implementation, the control of the speakerphone includes automatically controlling one or more graphical user interfaces associated with the speakerphone system.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/087,795, filed Mar. 31, 2016, which is a division of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/216,344, filed Mar. 17, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,332,104, which a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/033,706, filed Feb. 19, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,676,224, each ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.This application claims the benefit of and claims priority to U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/087,795, filed Mar. 31, 2016, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/216,344, filed Mar. 17, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,332,104, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/033,706, filed Feb.19, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,676,224. This subject matter is related toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/937,463, for “Variable DeviceGraphical User Interface,” filed Nov. 8, 2007, the subject matter ofwhich is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This subject matter is generally related to mobile devices.

BACKGROUND

Modern mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players) often includea speakerphone system. The speakerphone system, which typically includesa loudspeaker and a microphone integrated into the mobile device, canfree the user's hands and facilitate multi-party conversations using themobile device. A typical speakerphone system for a mobile device iscontrolled by hardware and/or software mechanisms which require the userto make physical contact with the mobile device. When operating themobile device in hands free mode, the user must manually activate thespeakerphone system to engage in a conversation, and then deactivate thespeakerphone system when finished with the conversation. Even if theuser is holding the device, the manual steps of activating anddeactivating the speakerphone system can be annoying to the user.

SUMMARY

A speakerphone system integrated in a mobile device is automaticallycontrolled based on the current state of the mobile device. In oneimplementation, the mobile device is controlled based on an orientationor position of the mobile device. In another implementation, the controlof the speakerphone includes automatically controlling one or moregraphical user interfaces associated with the speakerphone system.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example speakerphone system for a mobiledevice which can be managed based on a current state of the mobiledevice.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical user interface for the example mobiledevice.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the mobiledevice of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example process for managing a mobile device'sspeakerphone system based on a current state of the mobile device.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example data structure for mapping mobile devicestates to speakerphone control actions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Speakerphone System Overview

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example speakerphone system for a mobiledevice 100 which can be managed based on a current state of the mobiledevice 100. The mobile device 100 can be, for example, a handheldcomputer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a networkappliance, a camera, a smart phone, an enhanced general packet radioservice (EGPRS) mobile phone, a network base station, a media player, anavigation device, an email device, a game console, or a combination ofany two or more of these data processing devices or other dataprocessing devices. The mobile device 100 can have an speakerphonesystem associated with the mobile device 100, e.g., an integratedspeaker in the mobile device 100, or an external speaker wirelesslyconnected to the mobile device 100. The speakerphone system can includea microphone 122 which can be arranged on a front or back side of themobile device 100 to facilitate hands-free operation during a telephoneconversation or playback of audio content (e.g., music, voicemail). Invarious implementations, the speakerphone system also includes aloudspeaker 124 to deliver and/or amplify voice to reach a user of themobile device 100.

The speakerphone system can be managed based on the current state of theMobile device 100. In some implementations, the current state of themobile device 100 can be determined using a reference frame and one ormore sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyro, light sensor, proximity sensor)integrated into the mobile device 100. A “state” can be an orientationor position of the device with respect to the reference frame. Forexample, when the mobile device 100 is laid flat on a surface (e.g., thex-y plane) of a table top 140, the speakerphone system can be activatedto allow hands free operation. If the mobile device 100 is laying flaton a surface, an assumption can be made that the user intends to use thespeakerphone system for hands free operation. Similarly, if the mobiledevice 100 is orientated substantially vertical (in the z-plane), anassumption can be made that the mobile device 100 is temporarily fixedin a docking or recharging device (as shown in FIG. 1A), and thespeakerphone system can be activated to allow hands free operation whiledocked and/or while recharging.

A “state” of the mobile device 100 can also be determined based solelyon sensor inputs. For example, one or more sensors (e.g., proximitysensor 268) on the front and/or back sides of the mobile device 100 canindicate a state of the mobile device 100. For example, if a firstproximity sensor on the back side of the mobile device 100 is triggeredand a second proximity sensor on the front side of the mobile device 100is not triggered, then an assumption can be made that the mobile device100 is laying flat on a surface. Based on this assumption, thespeakerphone system can be controlled (e.g., activated) to allow handsfree operation. If the first proximity sensor and/or the secondproximity sensor are triggered, then an assumption can be made that themobile device 100 is being held by the user or is stored (e.g., storedin a bag or case). Based on this assumption, the speakerphone system canbe controlled differently (e.g., deactivated).

In some implementations, a processor (e.g., processor 304) in the mobiledevice 100 can use a state machine to maintain the current state of themobile device 100. The state machine can track various combinations ofinputs which can cause a state change to occur. A control action canthen be issued based on the current state of the mobile device 100 asindicated by the state machine. A control action can be activating ordeactivating the speakerphone system, generating or adjusting agraphical user interface and any other suitable control action.

For example, a first state of the mobile device 100 can be defined by afirst proximity sensor on the back side of the mobile device 100 sensingproximity to an object (e.g., a table top surface) and a motion sensornot sensing motion of the mobile device 100 (e.g., acceleration is belowa threshold value). The combination of these sensor inputs can place thestate machine of the mobile device 100 into the first state. The firststate can exist when the mobile device 100 is laying at rest, face up ona flat surface, for example. The control action can be activating thespeakerphone system and adjusting the volume of the loudspeaker 124.Another control action can be to generate a graphical user interface, asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/937,463.

A second state of the mobile device 100 can be defined by the motionsensor sensing motion (e.g., acceleration above a threshold value). Suchmotion can place the state machine into the second state. The secondstate can exist when a user has picked up the mobile device 100 from thesurface to make a call, for example. The control action can be loweringthe volume of the loudspeaker 124. Other control actions are possible.

A third state of the mobile device 100 can be defined by a secondproximity sensor located on the front side of the mobile device 100sensing proximity to an object (e.g., the user's head) and the motionsensor not sensing motion of the mobile device 100 (e.g., accelerationis again below a threshold value). The combination of these sensorinputs can place the state machine of the mobile device 100 into thethird state. The third state can exist when the user 110 has raised themobile device 100 to the user's ear and the mobile device is no longerin motion. The control action can be deactivating the speakerphonesystem. Other control actions are possible.

It should be understood that any number of states and/or combinations ofstates can be defined and used to trigger control actions. The statemachine can be implemented by a processor of the mobile device 100(e.g., processor 304). The processor can also determine appropriatecontrol actions based on the current state of the mobile device 100 asdetermined by the state machine.

Example Mobile Device

FIG. 2 illustrates a graphical user interface for an example mobiledevice. As described in reference to FIG. 1, the mobile device 100typically includes a built-in microphone 122 and loudspeaker 124. Insome implementations, an up/down button 284 for volume control of theloudspeaker 124 and the microphone 122 can be included. The mobiledevice 100 can also include an on/off button 282 for a ring indicator ofincoming phone calls. An audio jack 266 can also be included for use ofheadphones and/or a microphone.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile device 100 can include adisplay 202, which, in some implementations, is touch-sensitive. Thetouch-sensitive display 202 can implement liquid crystal display (LCD)technology, light emitting polymer display (LPD) technology, or someother display technology. The touch sensitive display 202 can besensitive to haptic and tactile contact with a user.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 can display one or moregraphical user interfaces on the touch-sensitive display 202 forproviding user access to various system objects and for conveyinginformation to a user. In some implementations, the graphical userinterfaces can include one or more display objects, e.g., 204 and 206.In the example shown, the display objects 204 and 206, are graphicrepresentations of system objects. Some examples of system objectsinclude device functions, applications, windows, files, alerts, events,or other identifiable system objects.

In some implementations, a proximity sensor 268 can be included todetermine the current state of the mobile device 100 by detecting theuser 110 positioning the mobile device 100 proximate to the user's ear,as described in reference to FIG. 1. In some implementations, thegraphical user interface can be resized to reduce the graphicalrepresentations of display objects 204 and 206, e.g., graphical icons,and their corresponding touch areas (e.g., areas on the touch-sensitivedisplay where a touch on the display 202 selects the graphical icons).In various implementations, an ambient light sensor 270 can also be usedto determine the current state of the device. For example, the ambientlight sensor 270 can sense when the mobile device 100 has been storedaway. This sensor input can be used alone or in combination with othersensor inputs to determine the current state of the mobile device 100.

In some implementations, the microphone 122 can be used as a volumesensor which can detect the user's voice volume. For example, when thevolume level from the voice source exceeds a default value, anassumption can be made that the user is speaking directly into themicrophone 122 while holding the mobile device 100 to their ear,resulting in the speakerphone system being deactivated, for example.

In some implementations, the ambient light sensor 270 can be utilized tofacilitate adjusting the brightness of the display 202, and anaccelerometer 272 can be utilized to detect movement of the mobiledevice 100, as indicated by the directional arrow 274. Accordingly, thespeakerphone system and a graphical user interface can be adjustedaccording to a detected orientation of the mobile device 100.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 includes circuitry andsensors for supporting a location determining capability, such as thatprovided by the global positioning system (GPS) or other positioningsystems (e.g., systems using access points, television signals, cellulargrids, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)). In some implementations, apositioning system (e.g., a GPS receiver) can be integrated into themobile device 100 or provided as a separate device that can be coupledto the mobile device 100 through an interface (e.g., port device 290) toprovide access to location-based services. In some implementations, themobile device 100 includes a gyroscopic sensor or other sensors that canbe used to detect motion or orientation of the device with respect to areference frame.

In some implementations, positioning sensors (e.g., an accelerometer272) can be used to compute an instantaneous coordinate frame of themobile device 100. For example, when the mobile device 100 is lying flaton a surface, an instantaneous coordinate frame centered on the mobiledevice 100 can be computed. For example, the z-axis can be perpendicularto the surface which can lie in the x-y plane in a right-handedcoordinated system, as shown in FIG. 1A. If the user 110 moves themobile device 100 to the position and orientation shown in FIG. 1B, thena trajectory for the mobile device 100 can be determined from the changein coordinates of the mobile device 100. For example, in reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B, the mobile device's 100 coordinate frame in FIG. 1Arotates by about ninety degrees with respect to the z-axis to change toa coordinate frame in FIG. 1B while the user 110 is holding the mobiledevice 100. Accordingly, the speakerphone system can be controlledaccording to the detected change of coordinate frames.

In some implementations, one or more sensors (e.g., a pressure sensor,temperature sensor) for detecting when a user is holding or gripping themobile device 100 can be integrated into a housing of the mobile device100. These sensors can detect when the mobile device 100 is gripped by auser, for example, by detecting a pressure exerted upon the body of themobile device 100 or a partial temperature change (e.g., deviation froman ambient temperature) on the mobile device 100.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 can include a touchsensor, which detects a user entering input via the graphical userinterface, resulting in the speakerphone system being activated, forexample. The user input can be received by the mobile device 100 fromthe user touching the touch-sensitive display 202, or from the usertouching a keypad or a like device (not shown) associated with themobile device 100.

in some implementations, the mobile device 100 can include a time sensor(e.g., using the internal clock of the mobile device 100), which detectsa duration for a certain state (e.g., position, or orientation) of themobile device 100. The detected duration can be used to determine if acontrol action will be triggered, to prevent overly frequent,unnecessary responses to each state change. By way of illustration, ifthe state change does not exceed a certain amount of time, e.g., fiveseconds, an assumption can be made that the state change is temporal,and therefore no control action will be triggered in response. Bycontrast, if the state change lasts longer than five seconds, anassumption can be made that the state change will remain for a longerperiod, and thus a control action can be triggered accordingly.

The decision whether to trigger a corresponding control action can alsobe made upon detection of time in combination with a transition distanceof the mobile device 100, to enhance accuracy of the statedetermination. For example, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, if the mobile device 100has been raised by the user 110 by twenty feet, for a interval exceedingfive seconds, an assumption can be made that the user intends to use thehandset for the telephone conversation. Accordingly, the speakerphonesystem can be deactivated in response to the assumption. Otherwise, thespeakerphone system can remain unchanged until the state change isgreater than a certain amount on time or distance.

In some implementations, a port device 290, e.g., a Universal Serial Bus(USB) port, or a docking port, or some other wired port connection, canbe included. The port device 290 can, for example, be utilized toestablish a wired connection to other computing devices, such as othercommunication devices, network access devices, a personal computer, aprinter, a display screen, or other processing devices capable ofreceiving and/or transmitting data. In some implementations, the portdevice 290 allows the mobile device 100 to synchronize with a hostdevice using one or more protocols, such as., for example, the TCP/IP,HTTP, UDP and any other known protocol.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 can have hardwareconnection sensors that detect whether the mobile device 100 isconnected to any hardware devices via the port device 290. When themobile device 100 is being connected to hardware devices (e.g., adocking station or re-charger), it is more likely than not, a user ofthe mobile device 100 is not holding the handset, and thus thespeakerphone system (e.g., the speaker volume and/or microphonesensitivity), and graphical user interface can be adjusted accordingly.

The mobile device 100 can also include a camera lens and sensor 280. Insome implementations, the camera lens and sensor 280 can be located onthe back surface of the mobile device 100. The camera can capture stillimages and/or video. In some implementations, the images captured by thecamera can be used to measure proximity to a user or if the mobiledevice 100 is held by the user and the speakerphone system and graphicaluser interface can be activated or adjusted accordingly.

The mobile device 100 can also include one or more wirelesscommunication subsystems, such as an 802.11b/g communication device 186,and/or a Bluetooth™ communication device 188. Other communicationprotocols can also be supported, including other 802.x communicationprotocols (e.g., WiMax, Wi-Fi, 3G), code division multiple access(CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), etc.

Example Mobile Device Architecture

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example implementation 300 of the mobiledevice 100 of FIG. 1. The mobile device 100 can include a memoryinterface 302, one or more data processors, image processors and/orcentral processing units 304, and a peripherals interface 306. Thememory interface 302, the one or more processors 304 and/or theperipherals interface 306 can be separate components or can beintegrated in one or more integrated circuits. The various components inthe mobile device 100 can be coupled by one or more communication busesor signal lines.

Sensors, devices, and subsystems can be coupled to the peripheralsinterface 306 to facilitate multiple functionalities. For example, amotion sensor 310, a light sensor 312, and a proximity sensor 314 can becoupled to the peripherals interface 306 to facilitate the orientation,lighting, and proximity functions described with respect to FIG. 2. Ahardware connection sensor 318 can be coupled to the peripheralsinterface 306, to facilitate determining a state of connecting themobile device 100 to any hardware, e.g., a docking station, a charger.,a personal computer, etc. A gripping sensor 319 can be coupled to theperipherals interface 306, to determine if the mobile device 100 isbeing gripped. In various implementation, a gripping sensor can includea temperature sensor, and/or a pressure sensor. Further, a touch sensor321 can be coupled to the peripherals interface 306, to detect if a useris touching user input interface, e.g., a touch screen or a keypad. Atime sensor 323 can also be coupled to the peripherals interface 306, todetect a duration of a certain state of the mobile device 100. Othersensors 316 can also be connected to the peripherals interface 306, suchas a positioning system (e.g., GPS receiver), a temperature sensor, abiometric sensor, a gyroscope, or other sensing device, to facilitaterelated functionalities.

A camera subsystem 320 and an optical sensor 322, e.g., a chargedcoupled device CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)optical sensor, can be utilized to facilitate camera functions, such asrecording photographs and video clips.

Communication functions can be facilitated through one or more wirelesscommunication subsystems 324, which can include radio frequencyreceivers and transmitters and/or optical (e.g., infrared) receivers andtransmitters. The specific design and implementation of thecommunication subsystem 324 can depend on the communication network(s)over which the mobile device 100 is intended to operate. For example, amobile device 100 may include communication subsystems 324 designed tooperate over a GSM network, a GPRS network, an EDGE network, a Wi-Fi orWiMax network, and a Bluetooth™ network. In particular, the wirelesscommunication subsystems 324 may include hosting protocols such that thedevice 100 may be configured as a base station for other wirelessdevices.

An audio subsystem 326 can be coupled to a loudspeaker 124, andmicrophone 122 to facilitate voice-enabled functions, for example,hands-free functionalities, voice recognition, voice replication,digital recording, and telephony functions.

The I/O subsystem 340 can include a touch screen controller 342 and/orother input controller(s) 344. The touch-screen controller 342 can becoupled to a touch screen 346. The touch screen 346 and touch screencontroller 342 can, for example, detect contact and movement or breakthereof using any of a plurality of touch sensitivity technologies,including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, andsurface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensorarrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contactwith the touch screen 346.

The other input controller(s) 344 can be coupled to other input; controldevices 348, such as one or more buttons, rocker switches, thumb-wheel,infrared port, USB port; and/or a pointer device such as a stylus. Theone or more buttons (not shown)can include an up/down button for volumecontrol of the speaker 126 and loudspeaker 124 and/or the microphone122.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 can present recordedaudio and/or video files, such as MP3, AAC, and MPEG files. In someimplementations, the mobile device 100 can include the functionality ofan MP3 player, such as an iPod™. The mobile device 100 may, therefore,include a 36-pin connector that is compatible with the iPod. Otherinput/output and control devices can also be used.

The memory interface 302 can be coupled to memory 350. The memory 350can include high-speed random access memory and/or non-volatile memory,such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, one or more opticalstorage devices, and/or flash memory (e.g., NAND, NOR). The memory 350can store an operating system 352, such as Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OSX, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks. Theoperating system 352 may include instructions for handling basic systemservices and for performing hardware dependent tasks. In someimplementations, the operating system 352 can be a kernel (e.g., UNIXkernel).

The memory 350 may also store communication instructions 354 tofacilitate communicating with one or more additional devices, one ormore computers and/or one or more servers. The memory 350 may includegraphical user interface instructions 356 to facilitate graphic userinterface processing; sensor processing instructions 358 to facilitatesensor-related processing and functions; phone instructions 360 tofacilitate phone-related processes and functions; electronic messaginginstructions 362 to facilitate electronic-messaging related processesand functions; web browsing instructions 364 to facilitate webbrowsing-related processes and functions; media processing instructions366 to facilitate media processing-related processes and functions;GPS/navigation instructions 368 to facilitate GPS and navigation-relatedprocesses and instructions; camera instructions 370 to facilitatecamera-related processes and functions; GUI adjustment instructions 373to facilitate adjustment of graphical user interfaces and user interfaceelements in response to sensor data; and/or other software instructions372 to facilitate other processes and functions.

In addition, the memory 350 can store audio management instructions 376to facilitate functions managing audio subsystem, including theloudspeaker 124, and the microphone 122. In some implementations, theaudio management instructions 376 are operable to toggle thespeakerphone system and adjust speaker volume and/or microphonesensitivity, in response to the sensor processing instructions 358.

The memory 350 may also store other software instructions (not shown),such as web video instructions to facilitate web video-related processesand functions; and/or web shopping instructions to facilitate webshopping-related processes and functions. In some implementations, themedia processing instructions 366 are divided into audio processinginstructions and video processing instructions to facilitate audioprocessing-related processes and functions and video processing-relatedprocesses and functions, respectively. An activation record andInternational Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) 374 or similar hardwareidentifier can also be stored in memory 350.

Each of the above identified instructions and applications cancorrespond to a set of instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above. These instructions need not be implemented as separatesoftware programs, procedures, or modules. The memory 350 can includeadditional instructions or fewer instructions. Furthermore, variousfunctions of the mobile device 100 may be implemented in hardware and/orin software, including in one or more signal processing and/orapplication specific integrated circuits.

Example Process of Controlling Speakerphone System

FIG. 4 illustrates an example process 400 for managing a mobile device'sspeakerphone system based on a current state of the mobile device 100.For convenience, the process 400 is described below in reference toFIGS. 1-3 (e.g., a mobile device 100, a speakerphone system, and othercomponents that perform the process 400).

In some implementations, the process 400 can begin when input from oneor more sensors on the mobile device are used to determine a currentstate of the mobile device (410). An example state can be a change ofthe mobile device's position or orientation relative to a user of themobile device or a reference frame. The one or more sensors (e.g.,accelerometer 272, motion sensor 310, proximity sensor 314, gyroscope)can detect changes in position and orientation of the mobile device,including the magnitude of those changes. In some implementations, thedetermining can include detecting and determining two or more differentstates based on inputs from two or more different sensors. For example,the mobile device can detect that the mobile device is being held orgripped, and also that the sound as well as the light sensors indicateproximity, to cross-check and/or determine a level of proximity and/ormotion of the device.

The current state or a sequence of states are used to determine acontrol action (420). Some examples of control actions includeactivating and deactivating a speakerphone system and/or generating oradjusting one or more graphical user interfaces of the mobile device.The control action can then be implemented by one or more components ofthe mobile device (430) to, for example, automatically control aspeakerphone system of the mobile device or generate and/or adjustgraphical user interfaces of the mobile device.

Example of Mapping States to Control Actions

FIG. 5 illustrates an example data structure 500 for mapping mobiledevice states to speakerphone control actions. The mobile device 100 canuse the data structure 500 to map the current state to one or morecontrol actions. The states can be determined based on sensor inputs, asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 1-4, and mapped to control actions whichcan be applied to the speakerphone system, a graphical user interfaceand any other feature, peripheral, application of the mobile device 100.Based on the target of a control action, the control actions can beimplemented by sensor processing instructions 358, audio managementinstructions 376 and/or GUI adjustment instructions 373. In someimplementations, the mobile device 100 can include a user-settableoption to enable or disable control actions.

Referring to FIG. 5, the current state can be any desired state of themobile device 100, including but not limited to: the Mobile device 100being orienting towards or away from a user; the mobile device 100 beingin proximity or within a distance to a user; the mobile device 100 beinggripped or released by a user; the mobile device 100 being connected ordisconnected to hardware device(s) (e.g., a docking station); the device100 being held at a certain angle with reference to an instantaneouscoordinate frame; volume levels received at the microphone 122; thedevice 100 receiving input from user interface or not; and other eventsthat tend to denote a change of position, orientation, or state of themobile device 100.

In various implementations, a control action applied to the speakerphonesystem can account for the magnitude of the determined event. Forexample, the sensitivity of the microphone 122 and/or the volume of theloudspeaker 124 can be adjusted in correspondence with the proximitychange, thus guaranteeing optimal voice quality. As another example, anangle at which the mobile device 100 is being held can determine theangle of the speakerphone system relative to the ground, andcorrespondingly, the reception and transmission of sound waves by thespeakerphone system can be affected by the angle relative to the ground.A control action can be made that accounts for this angle change. Forexample, if the mobile device 100 is held at an angle more parallel thanperpendicular with a plane (e.g., the ground), the control action canincrease the sensitivity and/or volume of the speakerphone system tooptimize sending and receiving sound waves.

In some implementations, a control action can include resizing of one ormore graphical user interfaces displayed on the mobile device 110, suchas resizing of display objects 204 or 206 and their corresponding touchareas, shifting a graphical user interface or user interface elements inthe graphical user interface, changing of a sensitivity level of thetouch-sensitive display, and/or adjusting and enlarging of the targettouch area of a user interface element based on an angle at which thedevice is being held, such as, for example, described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/937,463.

In some implementations, a control action can include adjusting aparameter by a predefined amount or percentage. For example, a speaker'svolume can be attenuated by a predetermined amount of decibels or apredetermined percentage of the original volume of the speaker. In someother implementations, the amount of an adjustment is based on theamount of detected motion, amount of detected acceleration, amount ofchange in orientation from a starting position, or the like. Forexample, if the amount of acceleration from rest is small, the amount ofchange of the speaker's volume is small as well.

In some implementations, the amount of adjustment can be based on userpreferences. For example, the user can configure a device options andsettings interface, for example) a maximum allowable amount (e.g., apercentage) for a type of adjustment. In some implementations, the usercan toggle the automatic control of the speaker system through thegraphical user interface.

In some implementations, a control action can include interruptingactions initiated by the user with additional confirmation steps. Ratherthan activating/deactivating or adjusting the speakerphone system bysome amount, for example, the device can add confirmation dialogs orquestion interfaces to the user interface flow for particular actions.As an example, if a user attempts to make a call on device 100 whileconnecting the device 100 to a personal computer is detected, the device100 can display a confirmation dialog box displaying and asking the userwhether to activate the speakerphone system. The confirmation dialog boxcan have relatively large target touch areas for “Yes” and “No” buttonsfor the user to select to confirm or decline to activate speakerphone.

In some implementations, the mobile device 100 “learns” particularcharacteristics or patterns of the state of the device and/or the user'sinteractions with the device 100 in view of the state to determine whichcontrol action should be issued. By way of illustration, the mobiledevice 100 can have a learning mode, where the device 100 can “learn” byrecording a detected state of the device 100, e.g., a trajectory of anotion, or a signature of proximity. Further, the device 100 can compareits state detected from the sensor input to the one or more patternsalready stored in the device 100, e.g., a signature of a bouncing motionwhile the user is walking, a signature of a change in orientation, atrajectory while the user is picking up and raising the device 100, etc.If the detected state matches one of the patterns, the mobile device 100can apply to the speakerphone system and/or graphical user interface thecorresponding control action to the matching pattern. In some scenarios,the device 100 can apply the control action based on the closest patterndetermined from the comparison.

In various implementations, the patterns that can be compared to thedetected state are related to detected volume levels, detected gripping,detected proximity, detected user input, or other states that can beassociated with patterns. In some implementation, the patterns can beconfigured or modified by the user or by learning from the user's pastpreference of a control action given a detected state. In someimplementations, the patterns and the control action account for themagnitude of the state, e.g., the level of detected volume, or thedistance of the motion.

In some implementations, the device 100 includes an indicator, e.g., alight indicator, to signify that an adjustment to the speakerphonesystem is being made. For example, the light indicator can showdifferent colors to signify different adjustments to the speakerphonesystem that are being made. In some implementations, a control actioncan include changing lighting of the display of the device 100,providing a user a better vision of the graphical user interface. Invarious implementations, the different lighting of the display canindicate that some changes to the speakerphone system are being made.

The disclosed and other embodiments and the functional operationsdescribed in this specification can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. The disclosedand other embodiments can be implemented as one or more computer programproducts, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructionsencoded on a computer-readable medium for execution by, or to controlthe operation of, data processing apparatus. The computer-readablemedium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readablestorage substrate, a memory device, a composition of matter effecting amachine-readable propagated signal, or a combination of one or morethem. The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus,devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example aprogrammable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers.The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates anexecution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., codethat constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a databasemanagement system, an operating system, or a combination of one or moreof them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g.,a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, thatis generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiverapparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code).

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computerneed not have such devices. Computer-readable media suitable for storingcomputer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatilememory, media and memory devices, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memorydevices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor andthe memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purposelogic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, the disclosed embodiments can beimplemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathoderay tube), LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, touch sensitive deviceor display, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and apointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user canprovide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used toprovide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedbackprovided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visualfeedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from theuser can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactileinput.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of what being claims or of whatmay be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific toparticular embodiments. Certain features that are described in thisspecification in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understand as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the embodiments described above should not be understoodas requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should beunderstood that the described program components and systems cangenerally be integrated together in single software product or packagedinto multiple software products.

Thus, particular embodiments have been described. Other embodiments arewithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cellular telephone comprising: a body having alength dimension, a width dimension that is shorter than the lengthdimension, and four sidewalls connected by curved corners, wherein thebody forms a rear surface of the cellular telephone; a touch sensitivedisplay that is mounted in the bode and that forms a front surface ofthe cellular telephone opposite the rear surface; an infrared emitter;an ambient light sensor on the front surface; a microphone mounted alonga first one of the four sidewalls that extends in the width dimension; aspeaker on the front surface along a second one of the four sidewallsthat also extends in the width dimension and that is opposite the firstone of the four sidewalls; a camera on the front surface along thesecond one of the four sidewalls, wherein the camera captures images;and a processor configured to determine whether the cellular telephoneis being held by a user based on the captured images and configured todisplay graphical user interface information on the touch sensitivedisplay in response to determining that the cellular telephone is beingheld by the user.
 2. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1, whereinthe graphical user interface information comprises a plurality ofuser-selectable icons corresponding to applications on the cellulartelephone.
 3. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1, wherein thegraphical user interface information comprises text.
 4. The cellulartelephone defined in claim 1, further comprising: a sensor thatgenerates sensor data in response to motion of the cellular telephone.5. The cellular telephone defined in claim 4, wherein the processordetermines an angle at which the cellular telephone is oriented based onthe sensor data.
 6. The cellular telephone defined in claim 1 furthercomprising an additional speaker mounted along the first one of the foursidewalls.
 7. A method for operating an electronic device having aprocessor, a display, and a camera, the method comprising: with thecamera, capturing images; with the processor, determining from thecaptured images whether the electronic device is being held by a user;and with the processor, presenting graphical user interface informationon the display in response to determining that the electronic device isbeing held by the user.
 8. The method defined in claim 7 wherein theelectronic device includes a sensor, the method further comprising: withthe sensor, measuring an angle at which the electronic device isoriented.
 9. The method defined in claim 7 wherein the electronic deviceincludes a speaker, the method further comprising: with the processor,generating audio through the speaker in response to determining that theelectronic device is being held by the user.
 10. The method defined inclaim 7, wherein presenting the graphical user interface informationcomprises presenting a plurality of graphical icons for applications onthe electronic device.
 11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein thedisplay is a touch-sensitive display, the method further comprising:with the touch-sensitive display, detecting user touch input at one ofthe plurality of graphical icons; and opening an application on theelectronic device in response to the user touch input at the one of theplurality of graphical icons.
 12. The method defined in claim whereinthe electronic device includes a microphone, the method furthercomprising: with the processor, adjusting a sensitivity of themicrophone in response to determining that the electronic device isbeing held by the user.
 13. A handheld electronic device comprising: acamera that captures first and second images; a processor thatdetermines whether the handheld electronic device is being used by agiven user based on the first and second images; and a display thatdisplays graphical user interface information in response to theprocessor determining that the handheld electronic device is being usedby the user.
 14. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 13,wherein the handheld electronic device has front and back opposingsurfaces, and wherein the camera and the display are formed on the frontsurface.
 15. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 14, whereinthe handheld electronic device is a cellular telephone having foursidewalls and rounded corners.
 16. The handheld electronic devicedefined in claim 15, wherein the display is a touch-sensitive display.17. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 16, furthercomprising: an infrared transmitter.
 18. The handheld electronic devicedefined in claim 13, wherein the graphical user interface informationcomprises text.
 19. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 13,further comprising a sensor that generates sensor data based on movementof the handheld electronic device, wherein determining whether thehandheld electronic device is being used by the user comprisesdetermining whether the handheld electronic device is being held by theuser.
 20. The handheld electronic device defined in claim 19, whereinthe processor is configured to determine an angle at which the handheldelectronic device is being held based on the sensor data.